Well, it is. The popular
arcade game comes home in a good transition to the N64. While the graphics may
not be arcade-perfect, nor the gameplay (I hate having to use that horrible analog
stick that's on the N64 controllers), it is a very well-done game.

I've noticed most people
can't figure out the level select. I can't figure out what's so complex about
it that people give up right there. It's not like the arcade version where you
just select from four areas and go from there. There's six areas now, and you
have to take them on in order. Basically, if you don't have a controller pak (N64
memory card), the game isn't worth playing. The level select is an actual level.
You walk to which area you want to play through. Once you get to that area, you'll
see several paths to circles on the floor. Glowing circles are ones you can enter.
These take you to the actual game levels. In the center of this level select,
there is a man. You can buy stuff from him. This replaces the shop between levels,
as once you complete a level, it drops you back here.

The game levels play just
like the arcade, except that it's harder to control because you're forced to use
the analog stick. Fortunately, there's a little auto-aiming to help make up for
this. The only good that comes from this is that the directional pad can be used
to navigate your stats and inventory.

The game now plays more
like a role-playing game than it did in the arcade, thanks much in part to the
level select. To help make it more this way, there are little tasks you have to
complete. The guy in the level select sends you on them through scrolls you pick
up during the game. I like this better, because it adds more of a sense of purpose
to the game, rather than just running around killing stuff.

Another thing I really like
is that saves characters individually rather than a whole game. That way, you
can play single-player for a while, getting your character up, then go over to
a friend's house and play your character in a four-player game. Since I haven't
done this, I don't know how it affects the level select. It probably just lets
you go to the highest level one of the characters has gotten to.

The graphics suffered a
bit in transition from the arcade to the console. The graphics aren't as clear,
the textures aren't as vivid, and you can really see the polygons on some models.
The animation is still as fluid as it ever was (which doesn't really say much).
I never could really hear the sound in the arcade, so I can't make a comparison
there.

Throughout all the things
I like about the N64 version of this game, there's still the one big problem that
the arcade version had. You can just sit in one spot and smack the button, killing
off a never-ending flow of enemies, and going up madd levels. Anyone who has a
rapid-fire button on their controller can just put a brick on it, let it run all
night while they sleep, and wake up to a level 99 character. While there's no
fun in that, there are quite a number of instances where the monsters spawn just
as fast as you can kill them, and you wonder if you should just sit there or take
lots of damage running up to the generator to kill it off. This is where the auto-aim
is bad. It never targets generators. So basically, if you run up to the generator,
you have to position yourself just right to take it down, which is difficult with
the analog stick. Well, there's always turbo attacks to clear the path. Those
alone pretty much redeemed the game. Now if only they weren't so limited.

Another plus is the secret
characters. I haven't seen any of them, but I know they're there. Doesn't matter
if they suck or not, it's just cool that they're there.

Through all of its shortcomings,
it's a pretty cool game. I'd buy it if I already owned an N64, or if it gets released
on the computer (which would rule for internet play). A Dreamcast or Playstation
version would be nice, too.

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phrase "World Gamer's Front" as well as this site and all of the content
contained within is copyright 1999 James Puckett, unless it is a copyright already
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their work.